Congressman Al Green Presents World War II Veteran Oscar Robinson With a Congressional Gold Medal

(Houston, TX)—On Saturday, October 24, 2015, Congressman Al Green, a consistent advocate for honoring our nation’s heroes, presented a Congressional Gold Medal to World War II Veteran, Montford Point Marine Oscar Robinson. Congressman Al Green presented the medal at the Garden Terrace of Houston. Mr. Robinson missed being formally honored along with his fellow Montford Point Marines by Congress and the White House three years ago. Congress presented a group of Montford Point Marines with a Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all those who served and presented each individual Montford Marine with a bronze replica to keep personally.

The Montford Point Marines were approximately 20,000 African American men who trained at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina from 1942 to 1949 before the armed services were desegregated. They fought bravely in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, oftentimes while experiencing racial discrimination. The Montford Point Marines served before and after President Truman desegregated the armed services, and their courageous service, along that of countless other African Americans, helped influence President Truman’s decision to desegregate the armed services.

“My father was very honored to be presented with this Congressional Gold Medal by Congressman Al Green,” said Ronald Robinson, the son of Mr. Oscar Robinson. “My father always said there was a difference in the way the black and white soldiers were treated in this country back then. However, while he was actually serving overseas, a commanding officer told him: ‘Nobody is going to care about the race of the person if the ship goes down.’ In the service, some saw soldiers as just soldiers and didn’t see the color of their skin. My father is also happy he lived long enough to see the change that has happened in the racial dynamics in this country and the election of an African-American President.”

Congressman Al Green’s office became aware of the case after Mr. Robinson and one of his sons, Ronald Robinson, learned from a report on the local news about the White House and Congress formally honoring the Montford Point Marines three years ago.  His father’s picture as a young Marine was featured in the report, but the family was unaware of the efforts to honor the Montford Point Marines in Washington, DC. Mr. Robinson and his son contacted Congressman Al Green’s office to describe the situation and seek to get the proper recognition for Mr. Robinson’s service to our nation. Eventually, Congressman Al Green was able to secure the Congressional Gold Medal for Mr. Robinson that he had not originally received.

“Mr. Robinson along with all the Montford Point Marines are truly exemplars of courage and integrity. Not only did they valiantly serve our nation during three wars, but they also served at a time when they were denied full civil rights both at home and abroad. Despite this and numerous other challenges, they persevered and inspired not only their communities but our entire nation,” Congressman Al Green said. “As I see it, one of my primary duties in Congress is to ensure those individuals that were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, as well as their families, are shown the proper appreciation. For that reason, it was my honor to assist Mr. Robinson in obtaining his Congressional Gold Medal and presenting it to him in the presence of his family.”